QUESTIONS ON MICROWAVE ENGINEERING

WITH ANSWERS

Ques 1. What is Microwave Engineering?

Ans. Microwave engineering is the study and design of microwave circuits, components, and
systems. Fundamental principles are applied to analysis, design and measurement techniques
in this field. The short wavelengths involved distinguish this discipline from electronic
engineering. This is because there are different interactions with circuits, transmissions and
propagation characteristics at microwave frequencies.

Ques 2. Define s-matrix and its properties?

Ans. In a microwave junction there is an interaction of three or more components. There will
be an output port; in addition there may be reflection from the junction of other ports. Totally
there may be many combination, these are represented easily using a matrix called S matrix.
Properties of s- matrix
1. it possess symmetric properties sij=sji
2. it possess unitary property
3. [s][s]*=[i]

Ques 3. Write the applications of microwave engineering?

Ans. Following are the applications of microwave engineering1. Antenna gain is proportional to the electrical size of the antenna. At higher frequencies,
more antenna gain is therefore possible for a given physical antenna size, which has
important consequences for implementing miniaturized microwave systems.
2. More bandwidth can be realized at higher frequencies. Bandwidth is critically important
because available frequency bands in the electromagnetic spectrum are being rapidly
depleted.
3. Microwave signals travel by line of sight are not bent by the ionosphere as are lower
frequency signals and thus satellite and terrestrial communication links with very high
capacities are possible.

Ques 4. Why is s-matrix used in MW analysis?

Ans. Matrix is used in MW analysis to overcome the problem which occurs when H, Y & Z
parameter are used in high frequencies.

Ques 5. What are the advantages of ABCD matrix?

Ans. The advantages of ABCD matrix are as follows1. They are used in power transmission lines
2. They are helpful in case of cascade networks.

Ques 6. What are junctions? Give some example

Ans. A microwave circuit consists of several microwave devices connected in some way to
achieve the desired transmission of MW signal. The interconnection of two or more
microwave may be regarded as MW junction.
E.g.: TEE, HYBRID RING

Microwave lab components

Ques 7. What are non-reciprocal devices? Give two examples?

Ans. The devices which are having the properties that the forward characteristics are not
equal to the reverse characteristics are called non-reciprocal devices.

Ques 8. What are the applications of reflex klystron?

Ans. The main applications of a reflex klystron are as follows1. Signal source in MW generator
2. Local oscillators in receivers
3. It is used in FM oscillator in low power MW links.
4. In parametric amplifier as pump source.

Ques 9. What is the purpose of slow wave structures used in TWT amplifiers?
Ans. Slow wave structures are special circuits that are used in microwave tubes to reduce
wave velocity in a certain direction so that the electron beam and the signal wave can
interact. In TWT, since the beam can be accelerated only to velocities that are about a
fraction of the velocity of light, slow wave structures are used.

TWT Amplifier

Ques 10. Give two examples for two port junctions.

Ans. Following are the two examples of two port junctions1. The junction of two rectangular guides of unequal height
2. A symmetrical junction consisting of two similar rectangular guides joined by an
Intermediate guide of greater width.